What is your favorite B&W film and why?

Bromo33333 · Oct 13, 2006

Kodak 400CN (C-41) for the "hour developing" near instant gratification for a roll of "snapshots".

Otherwise TMAX 100 or 400 for when I want to take time and be careful.

(Have Inford Delta I am going to try - how does that compare to TMAX?)

Konical · Oct 13, 2006

Good Evening,

T-Max 100. Minimal graininess, availability in 35mm, 120, and sheet film sizes, flexible contrast easily controlled with varied processing times/developers, and excellent reciprocity characteristics.

Konical

User Removed · Oct 13, 2006

Does not really matter to me. Basically, I use whatever is available, and as long as you know how to use your materials, you have nothing to worry about.

I find that I take just as good of pictures when using expensive film, as when I use really cheep film! Therefore, I use JandC Pro100 is 8x10 size, as it's the cheepest 8x10 on the market right now...and it creates beautiful images.

25asa · Oct 13, 2006

They don't make it anymore.

We're all doomed.

reub2000 · Oct 14, 2006

I like Tri-X. A nice film for street photography, and speed for shady areas or a cloudy day.

Philippe-Georges · Oct 14, 2006

25asa said:
They don't make it anymore.

We're all doomed.

Not doomed, yet, but still looking for an alternative to what I have used for more than 35 years...

André E.C. · Oct 14, 2006

Ilford FP4+ and Delta 400.

I like the present (yet not dominant) smooth grain and the classic look of FP4+ (my all time favourite), as for the Delta 400, well, I just love that range of mid tones.

Cheers

André

j-fr · Oct 14, 2006

Favorite film: T-MAX 400.

Fast. Fine grain for a 400 film. Long toe curve. Responds to different developers, lots of possibilities.

j-fr

www.j-fr.dk

Ole · Oct 14, 2006

Ilford FP4+.

I'll use others if I need more speed, or less speed, or if I don't happen to have any FP4+ in that size.

Steve Smith · Oct 14, 2006

Mainly Ilford FP4+ and HP5+

Occasionally use Fuji Acros 100 and Neopan 400

Steve.

metod · Oct 14, 2006

Tmax100…easily accessible, quite cheap, love the clear base of the film and that it is very flat. It is also quite forgiving ( -1 stop) and almost grain free. Could not get any better….
Only needs more care when developing, but that’s OK

Woolliscroft · Oct 14, 2006

Joint Ilford Delta 400 and Kodak Tec Pan (yes I know the latter is discontinued, but I still have half a freezer full).

David.

dpurdy · Oct 14, 2006

ACROS has a nice green box and works well in XTOL
Tmax 100 is the best film available
APX 100 (120) I still have 80 rolls. top quality very cheap.
Tmax 400 for 35mm wedding candids

juan · Oct 14, 2006

Adox/Efke PL100 because it expands and contracts well and because it is available in all three of my sizes 2x3, 4x5 and 8x10. JandC Classic 400 for my hand-held Speed Graphics - again its available in both 2x3 and 4x5.
Both of these films give me good prints after having learned to use them.
juan

Michael W · Oct 14, 2006

Fuji Neopan 1600 in Xtol is my favourite fast film.

In 400 I like Neopan & Tmax.
Tmax is great in Tmax developer.
I just bought 2 bulk rolls of Tri-X & I'll be testing it to see what I think.
Planning to use Rodinal first.
Recently I've been using HP5 in Xtol & liked it very much.
I want to binge on all these films & devs & see if I end up really liking one combo.

Confusion Circle · Oct 14, 2006

Kodak Tech Pan & Scala....but since they're not made anymore, Tri-X rules. I do like FP4 though.

ricksplace · Oct 14, 2006

I use a lot of different b&w film, but I guess my all-time fav is fp4+. I am becoming very partial to arista.edu ultra (Foma) in 120.

Rick

reellis67 · Oct 14, 2006

%85 of what I do I do with FP4+. HP5+ makes up about %8 and Pan F+ the remainder, in black and white. I really like what I get from these films as far as control, tonality, grain, and dynamic range. I've used FP4+ for so much that I find I can get just about any result I want from it using different developers or types of development.

- Randy

pschauss · Oct 14, 2006

Plus-X. I like the combination of fine grain, sharpness, and contrast. I have tried other in the 100-125 iso range, but none of them has the same punch that I get out of Plus-X. For me, it works well in D76 1+1 and Rodinal 1+50.

Robert Kerwin · Oct 14, 2006

FP4+ and HP5+ are my favorites. I love the look and tonality of both films and haven't found much that they couldn't handle.

- Robert

Andy K · Oct 14, 2006

HP5+, FP4+, Pan F. Because they are reliable, easily available and cover just about everything I want to do.

butterflydream · Oct 14, 2006

APX100, the solid black and the tonality.

borgida · Oct 14, 2006

Efke 25, FP4+, and Pan F (which I wish was manufactured in 4x5 sheets).

Black Dog · Oct 14, 2006

APX 400, XP2, Delta3200 and HP5+ once my APX runs out. Trying ADOX, though if I used one film it would probably be XP2.

pgomena · Oct 14, 2006

APX 100 and Delta 100 in 120, I'll probably shift to FP4 Plus when the APX runs out. In 35mm it's Tri-X and Delta 100. Sheet film: Tri-X and Delta 100, sometimes TMax 400.

Peter Gomena

What is your favorite B&W film and why?

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